Videos: Interviews Regarding The Emergency SNAP Money From The Beacon Farmer's Market and the City of Beacon

This article is a roundup of the video interviews we did with the Farmer’s Market and the City of Beacon. During that time, things were moving so fast, ALBB’s content only made it to Instagram. Below, please find those write-ups and accompanying videos.

How The Beacon Farmer’s Market Converts SNAP Money into Farmer’s Market Money Currency

Today we look at the SNAP program at the Beacon Farmer’s Market which is run by Common Ground Farm. Taking us through the process of converting SNAP (aka Food Stamp) dollars is Amy Bandolik, the Market Manager for the Beacon Farmer’s Market. Not only can SNAP dollars be spent here, but they are doubled with assistance from:

➕ The New York State Fresh Connect $2 card program that helps give people access to farm fresh produce and farmers receiving revenue from SNAP.

➕ Greens4Greens $5 cards program from funds raised from their Soup4Greens annual fundraiser, and right now during this federal government shutdown. Donations are being accepted right now for SNAP recipients - and anyone in need - at the Managers Tent in the market or online.

Amy walks us through what happens when the SNAP card is run for $10, and how it multiplies the money exchange The SNAP card gets filled up, so with it not getting filled up, the market continues to make it work by honoring those with cards - and those in need who might not have cards or never applied - with the base amount and these additional dollars.

Thank you for your support. The market is busy today and people are donating. Come in for assistance if you need it. Don’t be shy.

Thank you to all of ALBB’s sponsors and readers who donate to us to make our reporting possible. Producing independent media is our full time job 🥰

New York States Drops More Dollars For Anyone In Need - Available At The Beacon Farmer’s Market

📣 BREAKING NEWS: New York State has sent additional $2 Fresh Direct Coupons to those in need. Not just SNAP recipients, but those in need. Amy, the Market Manager for Beacon Farmer’s Market received these additional $2 Fresh Direct coupons 💸 to her mailbox yesterday.

Here’s How It Works:

If you are in need for your food situation, you can come to the Manager’s Table each week from November to December 2025 to pick up:

• $20 in Fresh Connect coupons. This can buy you meat, produce, other qualifying foods from the vendors at the Beacon Farmer’s Market.

- plus -

• $30 Greens4Greens from Beacon Farmers Market fundraiser. People have been donating, and this is what the money turns into. Emergency food money for those in need. You can even buy coffee beans and pastries with these at the market.

Both available each week November-December 2025. No verification required. There is an income qualifying table, but New York State has granted that if you state you are in need, you will be provided for.

How the City of Beacon Distributed Their $50,000 of Emergency SNAP Grocery GIft Cards

Here on this very windy Sunday at the Beacon Farmers Market with Heidi Harrison of Beacon Parks and Recreation Department, handing out their Emergency SNAP Grocery Card Distribution initiative to SNAP Receipts who are Beacon residents. The City’s offering to SNAP recipients living in Beacon is $50 for the Farmers Market or $60 Grocery Gift Card for Key Food Beacon. Bring Photo ID, piece of mail as proof of residency, and SNAP Card to pick up.

This is a one-time emergency distribution so far. One per name on the SNAP list for Beacon residents. Find Heidi next to the Beacon Farmer’s Market Managers Tent to pick up your Gift Card if you haven’t yet. One per household right now.

Here today for added convenience, but only today. Coupons or Cards are available for pickup during the weekdays at the Beacon Parks and Recreation Office at 23 West Center Street.

SNAP Recipients: Go pick up! They have your name already, so you’re all set. There are 80 people who still need to pick up their card. No re-application necessary.

Turkey On Every Table 2025 - Interview With Group Leaders For This Collaborative Distribution

The Thanksgiving Meal bag that went with the turkey for “Turkey on Every Table.”
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

This year's request for turkey meals for the annual Turkey on Every Table initiative grew by 330%, said Reuben Simmons to A Little Beacon Blog. "Last year, we had 90 signups. This year, we had 395 signups." There were four distribution points and organizations involved in the city-wide effort, including I Am Beacon, Fareground, Key Food, Salem Tabernacle and Knights of Columbus #446. This year, LaStar Gorton, incoming Councilmember for Ward 1, also participated in the distribution.

Kenya Gadsden holding a donated turkey before she services people in the line to receive the meals. Kenya wore her I Am Beacon sweatshirt this day, but wears several other sweatshirts:
- member of the Beacon Board of Education
- Councilwoman for Fishkill Town Board
- jointly oversees the Open Arms Christian Ministries International Food Pantry with distribution point here at Beacon Parks and Recreation Building
- supports the “Class in a Bag” Initiative, which supplies backpacks filled with school supplies for children in the Beacon City School District
- Ran for Dutchess County Clerk
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, registered people lined up to receive one turkey and a bag of food to prepare at home from one of the four distribution locations: Fareground at 37 Lamplight (the old Mary Kelly's building that is now the Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church), the Beacon Parks and Recreation Building at 23 West Center Street, Salem Tabernacle at 7 Delavan Ave., and St. Andrew & St. Luke Episcopal Church at 15 South Avenue.

Meals included a 14lb turkey, the infamous Kings Hawaiian dinner rolls, Stove Top stuffing, Key Food brand Urban Meadows apple pie, Kraft Mac and Cheese, Urban Meadows’s jelly, a bag of fresh apples, a bag of rice, and Green Giant mixed greens.

Families were in line to receive, some who walked there with metal push carts and strollers, and some who drove.

Knights of Columbus #446 members gathered around Junior Dabashi’s (Key Food) truck for another loading in of Thanksgiving Meals at 23 West Center Street, the Beacon Parks and Recreation Building.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

The total number of meals distributed from each location was 123 at Fareground, 127 Beacon Parks and Recreation, 61 at Salem Tabernacle, and at least 10 distributed directly by I Am Beacon to those who could not make the line. Reuben of I Am Beacon and Junior Dabashi of Key Food, with the assistance of Salem Tabernacle’s van of helpers which includes Ian, Frank and Pastor Bill, collect and distribute the food to each location, with the assistance of the Knights of Columbus offloading the food from the trucks.

ALBB visited the West Center Street location to talk to the group leaders to learn the origins of Turkey on Every Table - to get more from the story and see behind the flyer that asks for food donations each year.

How long has the program been going on?

Before this interview, the group leaders conferred among themselves to track back the origins, as this initiative is a collaborative effort with the groups.

This interview is with: Reuben Simmons of I Am Beacon; Ian Zrodlowski of Salam Tabernacle Church; Junior Dabashi of Key Food; and Bernard Gadson, married to Kenya Gadsden who was leading the distribution with families to get the turkey meals. A member of Knights of Columbus served as cameraman for this video.

LaStar Gorton, incoming City Councilmember for Ward 1 in Beacon, assisting in distributing the Thanksgiving Turkeys.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Reuben Simmons greeting a Knights of Columbus #446 member before Distrobution begins.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

I Am Beacon started Turkey on Every Table in 2014 and continued it for 4 years. Reuben, a co-founder of I Am Beacon told ALBB: "We got away from it [Turkey on Every Table] in 2018/19 as we saw there were multiple organizations doing distributions. The impact we felt was already being met. As an organization, I Am Beacon stepped back from it...And then COVID hit, and there was more time for people to regroup. One of I Am Beacon's missions is to do things in a collaborative effort."

Ian Zrodlowski of Salam Tabernacle Church carrying bags of food from their van.
PHoto Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Reuben went onto let the other explain. Ian told of how Salem Tabernacle Church has been in Beacon since the 1950s. "Every Thanksgiving, the women of the church would get together and put baskets together for people in need. Usually by word of mouth." He said that a dozen families would usually be reached. "It was not a formal thing, just something that we've always been doing."

More Salam Tabernacle Church members carrying Community-donated food from their van.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Reuben explained that Junior Dabashi was a key part of why the initiative started back up again. Junior had met with Salem Tabernacle, Reuben said, and who learned that Salem Tabernacle wanted to get more involved with the Beacon community. Junior asked Reuben to bring back the Turkey on Every Table program. "The only way I said I'd do it is if it was on a collaborative effort." They met with Salem Tabernacle, as well as Kenya and Bernard Gadsden with Open Arms Ministry, who run the weekly food pantry out of the Beacon Parks and Recreation building every Saturday.

In 2021, the Turkey on Every Table program revived, and has been happening ever since.

Fried Turkeys and Home-Bound Senior Citizens

During the distribution, ALBB heard Bernard talking about his schedule this week for frying turkeys. We asked him to tell us more about the process, and who he was cooking for. Bernard is passionate about caring for the seniors to provide for them an experience that can easily pass them over.

Bernard works at a Senior Apartment Complex. "A lot of seniors don't get a chance to go out. So they stay home and probably make a cornish hen. On Thanksgiving. I just felt that's ludicrous," Bernard told ALBB. "So I said, I want to bring my equipment. I want to fry turkeys for them." His boss gave him the green light to fry the turkeys, and he's been doing it for the last 5 years. "I did 3 turkeys yesterday. One for my grandson's school in Poughkeepsie, and 2 for my job. There was nothing left. They love it every year. And I look forward to it." This year, he's doing two more turkeys on Tuesday for another senior apartment complex in Newburgh.

Bernard then describes how he likes to fry the turkey. He prefers a turkey that is 15lb or under. "Forty-five minutes to an hour, and they are done," Bernard stated.

Kids Coat Distribution From Knights Of Columbus

Coats for kids came through the Knights of Columbus, who have been doing the coat distribution for 40 years in Beacon from their building before they sold it, member Kevin Allison told ALBB. One year, a group from Peekskill was doing a toy drive distribution where Sue Serino arrived to help. "One of Sue’s office people was at the door. One kid came through the door with no coat. I said 'where is your coat?' He said he didn't have one. I made sure he had a brand new coat.”

---

Knights of Columbus, Trinity Council #446 logo on sweater swag
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Knights of Columbus member Kevin Allison
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Knights of Columbus Logo on Jacket
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

In Response To SNAP Cut, Carter's To Give Away 20 Free Thanksgiving Meals - Details, Menu & Signup With ALBB

Chef Jon Lombardi, owner and creator of Carter’s Restaurant at 424 Main Street, is one of the longest running financial supporters of A Little Beacon Blog. Jon and Katie go back, way back to when he was managing the original Vault, and she had her office and community space in the Telephone Building in 2017.

Together, they cooked up ideas on how to give people great experiences with great food. They’ve been through a lot together through those years. They have parted ways; they have come back together; they have endured the current crazy political climate.

To preserve his sanity, Jon makes one thing clear: “No politics.” This is their understanding. But. He enjoys having his headline news at ALBB delivered to him in person or over the phone from Katie (as many advertisers do…check-ins down Main Street is common for Katie to do any day of the week).

One rainy Thursday morning before Halloween, while Katie was jogging outside and Jon was shopping for food to cook that day at his restaurant, he asked: “I don’t think I remember things being so political. Why are people so political these days?”

Katie answered: “I think it’s because things keep impacting people’s every day lives. Parts of how they live their lives are being taken away or threatened, and because of that, they have to speak out. Like, my friend is going to lose SNAP, and that upsets me. So I am going to speak out.”

Not everyone is familiar with the SNAP acronym. “SNAP?” Jon asked. “What’s that?”

“Food Stamps,” Katie answered. “They are turning off in November because of the government shutdown.”

“Sh*t,” Jon said.

“Yeah,” Katie said. “I qualified for them over the summer, and I experienced the feeling of going through the cashier line, and having to decide what to buy because not everything is eligible on that SNAP money card. Mayor Lee of the City of Beacon just announced they are going to issue grocery gift cards to SNAP recipients, and the Beacon Farmer’s Market always accepts SNAP dollars and doubles them, and they are figuring out what to do when the money doesn’t drop down into the card.”

Jon took a moment. “Well they are going to need Thanksgiving dinner.”

Katie responded, “Yes they are.”

Jon’s wheels started turning. His mind is very creative, especially when it comes to feeding people. Food is Jon’s love language. Finally, he started speaking again. “Tell them we are going to donate 20 turkeys. Is that enough? I’m at the store now. Let me price it out. They will be frozen, is that OK?”

Stopping in her tracks, Katie said: “Yeah!”

“Ok, Jon said. I’m getting prices. I’ll call you back.”

Jon did call back, and we started developing the plan of how to take signups. Then Katie said: “Jon - what if, maybe, what if maybe the people could also have some famous Carter’s mashed potatoes to warm up in the oven with the turkey. Just so that they can have some starch.”

Jon thought a minute, and then said: “Nah…because then I’d have to throw in apple pie.”

The menu developed from there. Jon’s catering brain fully engaged, and he thought out the entire menu that those in need can sign up for an pick up to cook at home.

Carter’s Restaurant will provide 20 meals to SNAP recipients or those in need. People can sign up for this meal using the form below. It is preferred if you have a SNAP card, but if you don’t, and you are in the middle of hard times, please reach out. Pickup will be the Tuesday before Thanksgiving at Carter’s at 424 Main Street.

Carter’s Thanksgiving Meal For Those In Need:

• Turkey (thawed - you cook in your oven)

• Carter’s Homemade Mashed Potatoes (made fresh, ready for you to warm in your oven)

• Apple Pie (frozen, you warm it up in your oven)

• Mixed Vegetables (canned veggies - you season as you like)

• Cranberry (a can of that sweet cranberry mold)

• 8 Dinner Rolls (hopefully you have leftovers for sandwiches!)

How To Sign Up

To sign up, please fill out your information below. We are prioritizing SNAP recipients, but if you are in need, please sign up. At this time, the distribution amount is 20 households. As Carter’s customers and ALBB’s readers are from all over the Hudson Valley, this is open to the region. Thank you.

Please email Katie of ALBB with questions: katie@alittlebeaconblog.com

SignUps Closed

We are SO glad we reached so many of you. The Turkey Meal Signup is closed, and we are coordinating delivery and pickup. If you filled out the signup form and have not heard from us, please check your email everywhere.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone.

Food Stamp Crisis: City of Newburgh Approves $100,000 SNAP Dollars; Middletown Approves $10,000 SNAP Dollars

Food Stamps, otherwise known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) are scheduled to end on Saturday, November 1st, 2025, a presidential administration-made crisis due to the federal government shutdown resulting from the inability to agree on cuts to Medicaid and access to health care. The federal government has placed blame on a governmental party, where such politicizing is allegedly illegal according to the Hatch Act. Further psychologically harming individuals reliant on SNAP, the presidential administration has published baiting language on the SNAP application page that says: “the well has run dry.”

According to reporting from CBS, the SNAP program has $5.5 billion in a contingency fund, according to Bobby Kogan, Senior Director of Federal Budget Policy at the Center for American Progress, that the 47th presidential administration is refusing to release.

Local food justice organizations have been preparing for this moment, and local municipalities are stepping up. First to announce direct dollars going to SNAP recipients was Middletown, who has approved a reallocation of $10,000 federal funding already secured for other purposes to provide short-term emergency relief, Blaise Gomez reported. “Mayor Joseph DeStefano called it a necessary, transparent use of existing funds ‘to act quickly, responsibly, and compassionately,’ while the city pursues additional public and private support to expand the effort,” she reported. This will reach approximately 200 Middletown families, with details on distribution, eligibility and guidelines to be posted soon.

Next, the City of Newburgh authorized $100,000 from their already secured federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to people enrolled in SNAP, Blaise reported. In a proposal by Orange County Legislator Genesis Ramos, Midhudson News reported, the City of Newburgh will give $150 grocery gift cards to approximately 700 households that are currently enrolled in SNAP. The newspaper reports that “priority will go to families and seniors at highest risk of food insecurity, with eligibility and distribution details to be released in the coming days.”

City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey said of the root of the blockage of SNAP: “This shutdown is a direct result of full-grown adults in Washington, D.C. failing to fulfill the one job that they were sent to do, to serve the people. Every elected official is bound by duty to put the needs of the citizens first, and yet here we are facing the fallout of their incompetence and their willingness to stand idly by while countless family members suffer.”

For those not yet familiar with Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), that is money that can be used for income-level qualifying areas. In Beacon, for example, grant monies have gone to infrastructure upgrades like sidewalk replacements in neighborhoods that meet the income level requirements, like the multi-year sidewalk replacement along South Avenue at South Davies Terrace and Loopers Court.

“Newburgh officials say they are also exploring partnerships and donations to grow their program. Local businesses, community groups, and donors interested in contributing to Newburgh’s emergency fund can contact the City Manager’s Office at (845) 569-7301,” Midhudson News reports.

Orange County Legislator Genesis Ramos called Washington’s actions “cruel and disgusting.” She cited that 19,000 households in Orange County are using SNAP food stamps currently. She said in the City and Town of Newburgh, 7,200 people rely on SNAP benefits.

Mayor Lee Kyriacou Proposes To Aid Beacon's SNAP Recipients With Gift Cards To Local Grocers Via 2025 Budget Amendment

On Wednesday evening, as Saturday’s upcoming stoppage of federal funding of the SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) grows nearer, Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou proposed providing gift cards from local grocers to Beacon residents who are currently receiving SNAP benefits.

In a statement on Mayor Lee’s Facebook page, that was first announced on the City of Beacon’s page, he said: “Today I announced that I will propose to amend the 2025 Budget at the next City Council meeting to authorize funding for emergency food assistance to Beacon residents who are losing federal benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“I directed City staff to quickly develop a program in cooperation with local grocers to provide gift cards to Beacon residents who currently receive SNAP benefits. If approved by the City Council, the program would be rolled out in the days following the approval, and further details and updates will be provided.”

The next City Council Meeting on Monday is public, where the general public can make Public Comment and the City Council can vote on proposed resolutions. This marks an uncommon move to add a proposed resolution to the official voting agenda within the week of the agenda being created, and then voted on by City Council to adopt or not that evening. Hence, the emergency funding.

The City Council is currently discussing and debating the proposed budget for 2026, as they do every October for a vote by December.

Early Voting Started In Dutchess County, And The Locations/Times Are Plenty

View fullsize

Early voting has started, and the locations and times are a plenty for Dutchess County. The Dutchess County Board of Elections has listed locations with addresses, and the schedule for those locations.

Click here to see the list of times and locations. A screenshot has been taken and included here in this article.

People living or working in the Beacon area will find the Fishkill Town Hall to be the closest to home with plenty of parking.

There is a Proposition on the back, asking voters if they want to approve land acquisition in Essex County for the Adirondack Forest Preserve, which requires a constitutional amendment to sustainably develop the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex while adding at least 2,500 acres to the Adirondack Forest Preserve. According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, voters will decide “whether existing development at the state-operated winter sports complex at Mount Van Hoevenberg will be brought into compliance with the state Constitution. If it is, the state will buy 2,500 acres of land to add to the Adirondack Forest Preserve.” The article goes on to quote outreach from different environmental groups.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation today to prepare for the potential acquisition, saying: “New Yorkers will have the opportunity to decide whether to move forward with this important constitutional amendment. By signing this legislation, we’re ensuring that if voters approve the measure, the State will be ready to implement it immediately, allowing New York to strengthen its Olympic legacy at Mount Van Hoevenberg while protecting the Adirondack wilderness that defines who we are as New Yorkers.”

Video Recaps Of Gold Nuggets From City Council Meeting 10/14/2025: Budget 2026, Commnity Fridge Removal, Etc.

Tuesday Night’s City Council Workshop Meeting for 10/14/2025 covered:

• Budget Presentations from Police and Fire Chiefs, and Parks and Rec Director Mark Price. Overview of South Avenue Park improvement to Loopers Basketball Court in time for Beacon Hoops kids community basketball program. The price reduction of the summer pool from $100/household to $20. The Skate Park upgrade. More.

• Finance Director Susan Tucker’s note about the 3 largest areas of the budget that are fixed.

• Housing discussed. Intricacies brought up as to why it’s so hard to afford Beacon, like FICO scores. Mayor open to face making Short Terms illegal to increase housing stock for long term rentals.

• Community Refrigerator discussion led by Heidi Harrison and Mark Price, illustrating their 5 years of being involved with the one at the Parks and Rec building that is not owned by the City, even though people accessing the fridge often think it is. Heidi maintained that people who use the fridge are like family to them, but that the current management system is not working. Well intentioned, but something else is needed with management. She stressed how quickly the fridge can degrade in quality and dignity even within a few hours of a drop off of donated food. City Administrator Chris White stressed how the food labels and health regulations that restaurants follow were not applied to the fridge. He proposed buying people WIC and suggested the organizations should fundraise (they fundraise a lot as it is). This is an ongoing discussion.

Special Portion Dedicated To The City of Beacon’s Abrupt, Unannounced Removal Of The Community Refrigerator At The Park and Recreation Building

This is a clip of the video recap of Tuesday’s City Council Workshop Meeting that recaps the discussion the City Council had with Parks and Recs Director Mark Price and Assistant Recreation Director Heidi Harrison.

They delivered a presentation with photos of the refrigerator at the Park’s and Recreation Department Building over the past 5 years, at the request of City Administrator Chris White, who ordered the removal of the refrigerator, citing zoning code violations and liability issues for the City of Beacon.

The full presentation is available in the City’s YouTube or Vimeo, so one should watch that for all points covered. Assistant Director Heidi stressed that this was not a criticism of organizations involved with filling and managing the fridges, but that the 24/7 access was too difficult to monitor.

City Administrator Chris had other choice words like that the food was not preferred, that his own mother would have rejected it, and that the food spoils. Both were concerned about marking the food with ingredients for allergens, and Heidi and Mark provided examples of half eaten pizza slices or sandwiches that well-intentioned people placed into the fridge thinking someone might eat. Mark mentioned a pie that someone took a bite of, that might be delivered nicely wrapped, but was a scoop-n-go for someone else.

City Administrator Chris said that a refrigerator on private property would need to be in an enclosed shed. He pointed out that there were many distribution sites available, and that maybe they should be consolidated.

As a person who has both used and contributed to these locations, ALBB can say:

• Each location is its own community and vibe. Which is a pleasant thing to mix community feeling. Consolidating locations would be a loss to nurturing corners of the community.

• Hours of operation are limited. Picking up from Wednesday Distribution requires that a person be available with a car in the morning on select days. Some people are at work. Or on a bus to work. ALBB worked remotely from her car with laptop while waiting in that line.

Everyone agreed that more communication and coordination was needed.

Hocus Pocus Halloween Parade Returns 2025 As All-Day Afair: Schedule of Events

This Main Street Halloween Parade has grown in recent years to be a higher concept seek-and-find for kids and families to expand their exposure from simply a parade route going down the middle of Main Street, to a reason to go into stores to explore. Costume Contests have been added, and an 21+ Adult party at the end. Therefore, an itinerary has been developed with a prize system. Organizers are The Gate House Team at Compass Realty. Any questions should go to them. ALBB is not an organizer of this event. Here’s how it works, according to their flyer:

Saturday, October 25, 2025. Beacon’s Main Street

Full Day Hocus Pocus: 11am-6pm

Each business with an orange pumpkin in the window will have a Black Cat hidden in their store. Find the Black Cat and get your passport stamped. Passports are available at participating stores during normal business hours. Businesses wishing to get involved should contact Gate House Team at Compass Realty.

• Win a Grab Bag for every 15 stamps collected. Depending on how many businesses are participating, maybe a child can get more than one Grab Bag! Beacon’s Main Street is 1 miles long.

• Grab Bag Locations:

  • The Gate House Team at Compass Realty (490 Main Street, down near the mountain, on the way to Chocolate Studio for their ice-cream.)

  • Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hudson Valley Properties (226 Main Street, Ste 1, on the way to Bagel-ish)

Parade TIme: 3-3:30pm

Lineup is at 2:30pm at Pohill Park (near Bank Square Coffee and Savage Wonder)

Parade kicks off at 3pm and ends at Veterans Place (the Post Office and Towne Crier).

Trunk or Treat from First Responders: 3-6pm

Enjoy a Trunk or Treat at Veterans Place (where the parade ends) with your favorite First Responders (Beacon Volunteer Ambulance (BVAC) and others)

Costume Competition from Happy Valley: 12-7pm

An all-day Family Friendly Halloween Celebration will be happening at Happy Valley from 12-7pm. Happy Valley has old-school arcade style video games inside, as well as beer and drinks.

Costume Contest: 5-5:30pm

A Family Friendly Halloween Costume Contest will commence with prizes for various categories: Best Family Group Costume; Best Costume For Kids (8-12 yo); Best Costume for Teens (13-17 yo)

Halloween Party for Adults 21+: 8pm-1:30am

Another celebration will commence, but this one is for Adults. The Costume Contest for this round is from 10-10:30pm.

Have fun! Get plenty of rest after for the actual night of Halloween.

2 Vacancies On Beacon's Assessment Review Board; 3 of 5 Members Are Realtors; Mayor Set To Reappoint Realtor Tonight

Update 10/9/2025: “Assessment Review Board Vacancy Not Promoted; Discussion of Ethics Complaints; Both Appointees Confirmed”

Two vacancies have opened on one of the most important boards in the City of Beacon that impacts property owners and their potential property taxes: the Board of Assessment Review. A well publicized open call for those vacancies has not been made by the City of Beacon, and it was not declared who was not returning to the board. A reappointment of a board member whose is a realtor, the profession of which is a debatable conflict of interest and is discussed in guidance provided by New York’s Department of Taxation and Finance, is on the table for an appointment by Mayor Kyriacou at tonight’s City Council Meeting, which will be passed by the Mayor if there is no objection from City Council.

According to the presentation made by Ben Swanson at last week’s Workshop Meeting, there are 2 appointees up, one of whom is on the board already. Ben stated: “Michele Rios [of Berkshire Hathaway] has served 2 terms. This would be her 3rd term. She has been on the board 10 years starting in 2014. She has a long real estate career as a licensed agent and broker spanning 20 years or thereabouts. So, she has a a great background for this board.”

Ben continued with the second appointee, David Ross: “David has a distinguished career in fine arts management. He's worked throughout the country in executive administrative roles with various art institutions. We think he's a very impressive candidate and he's willing to spend the time on this board as well. We're excited to bring his application to your attention as well.”

What Does The Board Of Assessment Review Do?

Mayor Kyriacou explained during last week’s 9/29/2025 City Council Workshop that the Board of Assessment Review “is one of the three statutory required ones [Boards]: The Planning Board, the Zoning Board, and the Board of Assessment Review.”

He continued: “Their job is is mostly focused around May when you have the new assessments come out and there's a grievance process and they will hear grievances. That's the non-litigation process that the City does. And then if it ever goes past that, it goes past it. But their job is primarily in that month of May. And I'm just appreciative that we've got people willing to do it.”

When people challenge their assessments to commercial or residential property and win, the City of Beacon will at times pay them back the difference. Property assessments are based on many factors, including related “comps,” which are the most recent prices of properties sold near the property in question. With the hot market in Beacon, having bidding wars is common, as well as offers of cash coming to disrupt a buying process. Some realtors are more aggressive than others at navigating this phase which can result in driving up property prices.

The Board has 5 positions on it, and 3 of them are realtors.

Who Else Is On The Board?

View fullsize

According to a screenshot taken by the WayBack Machine, a public database of years of archived screenshots, the realtor Ron Donofrio was the fifth name on the Assessment Review Board that has been removed. Ron was appointed in October 2020 for a 5 year term.

It was announced that there were 2 vacancies on this board. However, it was not disclosed as to who was stepping off the board, or whose term was ending or up for reappointment. Last week, A Little Beacon Blog emailed Mayor Kyriacou, his secretary Ben, and Council Member Molly Rhodes asking who was leaving the board, but none of them responded.

View fullsize

Ron Donofrio is also listed at the Highlands Current website as a current Assessment Review Board Member with the current City Council as of October 2025.

Checking the Board of Assessment Review page today Monday, there are 4 names listed. Prior, there were 5 names listed. According to the WayBackMachine, as of May 15, 2025, Ron Donofrio was the 5th name that is no longer listed on the City of Beacon’s website as of today. Ron is a realtor in Beacon and was appointed on October 19, 2020 by Mayor Kyriacou.

Other Board Members include:

John Stella, Board Chair
According to a memorandum presented by Ben, Secretary to the Mayor, on December 14, 2022 in favor of John Stella's reappointment, John "retired from IBM and then worked as a Realtor in the area. John spent the past 15 years on the Board of Assessment Review, 12 of which were as Chair. He also served as Chair to the City's Parking and Traffic Safety Committee for 14 years. Additionally, he served as Vice President of the Beacon Board of Education. He also served as an Volunteer Firefighter for 60 years "and is now exempt," according to the memorandum.

John Berry
According to a memorandum presented by Ben, Secretary to the Mayor, on January 3, 2024 in favor of John Berry's reappointment: “Mr. Berry is a resident of the City of Beacon and is currently retired. He has a lengthy background of community service to Beacon, specifically in previously having served as a pack leader for a local Boy Scout Troop, previously having served as Chair of the Beacon Democratic Committee, running for Mayor in 2003, and by currently continuing his long-standing service on Beacon’s Board of Assessment Review.”

Robert Palisi
Robert Palisi’s memorandum for recommendation cannot be found online at this moment, but he was recognized as the Grand Marshall of the Parade of Green in 2023. According to his Grand Marshall recognition, Robert is a lifelong resident of the City of Beacon who started his career at Shaw Motors (then became Healey) with his father. He then worked for Ward's Auto Body, and then Secor Auto Body. In 1979, he started his own family business, Palisi Auto Body & Auto Glass on Main Street in Beacon, which moved to a "newly constructed state-of-the-art auto body shop on West Main Street," in 1984 says the parade flyer.

"Bobby is also a partner in Fulton Avenue Realty Restoration Company, which over the last 28 years, has done a multitude of building renovations and constructed several new houses in and around the City of Beacon."

Michele Rios
Michele Rios is a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. When this article surfaced, encouraging the City Council to pause her reappointment in order to reconsider having realtors on the board, Michele responded via Facebook Comments with insults and a threat to ALBB.

She also stated that there were 2 realtors on the board. However, there were 3 realtors on the Board, when Ron Donofrio was within his term, which may have ended October 2025.

Comments Of Interest

The Assessment Review Board is one where people in the community must appeal to fellow members of the community for financial matters. Fear of retaliation should not be a factor, but for some is.

To show an example of character, the comments of the language and logic used by this board member up for reappointment are below in the order of their publishing:

---

According to the bios presented above, there were 3 realtors on Beacon’s 5-member Board of Assessment Review as of this year: John Stella (Chair), Ron Donofrio, and Michele Rios.

Questions Raised From These Proposed Appointments

• Should realtors be on the Assessment Review Board?

• Should Beacon have a Board to hear grievances about realtors in the buying/selling process in residential or commercial property transactions?

According to Guidance provided by the New York State’s Department of Taxation and Finance, the issue of real estate agents or brokers being on assessment review boards is taken into consideration as a potential conflict of interest. While it does not prohibit it, the guidance does suggest a ratio of 1 to 3.

“Section 1524 specifically requires that persons appointed by the legislative body of a local government to the board of assessment review have a knowledge of property values in the local jurisdiction. In most instances, a real estate broker would certainly meet this requirement. It has been and continues to be the opinion of this office that there is no incompatibility arising from the appointment of 1 real estate broker to a 3 member or assessment review.

“The obvious intent of section 1524 is to provide property owners with an opportunity to obtain an independent review of their assessments by a body which did not participate in the assessment in the first instance and which consists of members knowledgeable in real property values. However, care should be taken with respect to the overall balance in the composition of the board of assessment review.”

How To Voice Your Opinion About A Mayor’s Appointment

While the Mayor makes an appointment, the City Council must support it. If they do not, then more consideration is given. To make sure your voice is heard or seen, email each City Council Member and the Mayor. One should not fear retaliation if they are a commercial or residential property owner.

MOLLY RHODES
Councilmember, Ward One
Pronouns: she, her, hers
mrhodes@beaconny.gov

JEFFREY DOMANSKI
Councilmember, Ward Two
Pronouns: he, him, his
jdomanski@beaconny.gov

PAM WETHERBEE
Councilmember, Ward Three
pwetherbee@beaconny.gov

GEORGE MANSFIELD
Councilmember, Ward Four
gmansfield@beaconny.gov

AMBER GRANT
Councilmember, At-Large
Pronouns: she, her, hers
agrant@beaconny.gov

PALOMA WAKE
Councilmember, At-Large
Pronouns: she, her, hers
pwake@beaconny.gov

Lee Kyriacou, Mayor
mayor@beaconny.gov

Ben Swanson, Secretary to the City Mayor
cityofbeacon@beaconny.gov

Vimeo.com Restored ALBB's Account After 2 Appeals and Social Media Bumps

After 2 appeals and several Instagram mentions calling out Vimeo's reliance on AI to terminate years of content without any human review, Vimeo responded positively to ALBB's appeal requests. Vimeo not only restored our account, but restored the video with the message from Pastor Howard-John Wesley. As a refresh, Vimeo is a video-sharing platform that ALBB uses as an alternative to YouTube in order to bring you videos that can be embedded in articles, but in a less invasive way than YouTube does.

Vimeo’s appeal email said:

Hello,

We're writing to inform you that after receiving your appeal, our team conducted a second review of Pastor Howard-John Wesley's Response To Federal Order of Flags Half Staff For Charlie Kirk and have determined it did not violate our Acceptable Use Policy. Therefore, the content has been restored.

We appreciate your patience throughout this process, and will use this decision to improve this experience for others.

ALBB’s initial response to the restoration was published on Instagram: “Thank you Vimeo . There is light and hope in this world. Thank you for taking the time to have a human review the content that got my entire account banned within 2 minutes by AI. Thank you for your second look. Appreciated. 🎥📸”

Spirit of Beacon Day 2025 Committee Announces Theme, Parade and Vendor Table Lineups!

The 2025 Spirit of Beacon Committee Chair Ali T. Muhammad announced to the City of Beacon’s City Council the theme of this year’s Spirit of Beacon Day: “This year we're focused on the youth. Every year the spirit of Beacon Day is focused in the spirit of youth development, youth growth. Forty eight years ago when they started this, we know that there was a lot of tension in this community. People came together to ease that tension.”

Crediting inspiration to Whitney Houston’s song, the theme is: “Children Are The Future; Let Them Lead The Way.” Don’t be surprised if this song is in your head for the rest of the day. That is, until the school marching bands and the Marching Cobra’s knock it out with their beats!

The Vendor Table Lineup has been announced, and it’s fresh with new businesses, a collection of faith-based groups at the Salvation Army yard this year, and new food vendors, including Chocolate Studio (making an appearance up-block from their storefront near the Dummy Light), Big Vinny’s Bakery, Midnight Ferry from Newburgh, Pat’s Kitchen, Candi Cloud Confections, Brie & Boujee and others. St. Rocco’s and the Masjid Ur Rashid will be cooking as usual from their home-bases, and other organizations may be selling food from their tables as fundraisers.

The Parade Lineup has been announced as well.

Any updated Vendor or Parade Lineups will be re-published here at at Spirit of Beacon website as they happen. Tap on either lineup photo to enlarge it.

10am Streets blocked off in Spirit of Beacon Table Perimeter.

11am Spirit of Beacon Day Opens! Vendor Tables Open.

11:30am Volunteers of the Year Ceremony

12pm Parade lineup (those in the parade go to Rte. 52 (Yankee Clipper Diner).

1-2pm Parade starts!

5pm Spirit of Beacon Day ends.

STRIPED! Fishkill and Teller Avenues Finally Striped After 20 Years Of Planning And Securing 95% Funding

Fishkill and Teller Avenues have reached the final phase of “The PRoject” that has been 20 years in the making to upgrade piping and road infrastructure in that area.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

After 20 years of planning, the last year of which drivers in Beacon have been navigating through detours, rough roads and construction crews risking their lives so that people can have smooth, safe roadways in Beacon, the striping has finally begun getting painted onto Fishkill and Teller Avenues, as well as some outlier areas.

In its description of The Project, the City of Beacon reminded the community that this project came through “after more than 20 years of planning, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and regulatory approvals.” The Project was estimated to be $9 million and was 95% funded through federal and state transportation grants.

It began in June 2024, and encountered a few bumps. Toward the end on July 17th, 2025, the City of Beacon announced: “Approximately 20% of the new sidewalk on Teller and Fishkill Avenues will be torn out and replaced. The concrete used in these sections last fall was substandard and caused the sidewalks to flake and spall even though they were just installed last year. The replacement of these sections is being done by the contractor at NO ADDITIONAL COST to the City. This sidewalk work will take about two weeks. Starting in mid-August, all of Teller Avenue and Fishkill Avenue between Main Street and Blackburn Avenue (across from Memorial Park) will be milled and paved. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we get through this generational upgrade to these critical streets.”

The original project area covered Teller Avenue from Wolcott Avenue (Route 9D) to Main Street and Fishkill Avenue from Main Street to Blackburn Avenue. Improvements included in this project were:

• Replacements of all existing sidewalks with new 5-foot-wide concrete sidewalks.

• Installing new curbing.

• Replacing drainage structures throughout the Project area.

• Repaving and re-striping the roadway during its final phase.

Safety enhancements included:

• Adding a Leading Pedestrian Interval signaling at the intersection of Teller Avenue/ Fishkill Avenue and Main Street. A woman was killed at that intersection while walking to cross the street. She was a grandmother who was hit by another grandmother driving from school kid pickup.

• Installing 2 raised pedestrian crosswalks near Memorial Park (“speed tables”).

• Reconfiguring the intersection at Teller Avenue and Wolcott Avenue as a “T” intersection, with the George Washington monument moved to the north side of Teller Avenue.

• BONUS: The City was negotiating to extend the sidewalk replacement work further from Blackburn Avenue towards the Town of Fishkill border, if funding allowed.

Assistance For Passports, Veterans, Social Security And More Offered By Pat Ryan's Bus At Beacon Farmer's Market

Photo Credits on this page: Katie Hellmuth

Parked at the Beacon Farmer’s Market this week next to the live music tent was the Representative Pat Ryan C.A.R.E.S. (Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services). The concept of the van is to help people navigate federal agencies and get attention if they are being neglected. “You shouldn’t have to jump through hoops or navigate bureaucratic red tape to get the assistance you deserve and the federal benefits you earned,” says Rep. Ryan on the program’s website.

Sunday’s van pop-up was staffed by Constituent Advocate Karen DeSimone and District Aide Brandon Gonzalez. There purpose was to answer questions from constituents about accessing federal agencies. They came equipped with Release Forms that once signed, can authorize Rep. Ryan’s staff members to begin taking action for the constituent to get their issue resolved.

If a passport has stalled in process, or Veterans benefits hard to reach, this program helps remove the clog. Said Thomas from Port Jervis on the program website: “I had spent 30 months trying to get my Social Security benefits and had gotten nowhere. After contacting Congressman Ryan's office, I was put in touch with Destiny H., who interceded on my behalf and got me results. I cannot thank her enough and am totally sincere when I say that her help changed my life.”

The program helps with Social Security, Passports, Veteran Benefits, Grant Funding, IRS Help, Flag Requests, and more. On this day in Beacon, Karen and Brandon answered questions about Social Security, and how one could contact the Veteran’s Office.

Said David from Beacon on the program’s website: “The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, a historic Hudson Valley service organization, experienced an unexpected automated action from the IRS that if not resolved quickly, could have had very negative consequences. I immediately contacted Congressman Ryan's office for advice and support. The Congressman's staff promptly responded to our request for assistance, contacted the IRS Tax Advocate Services on our behalf, and advocated for our need to expedite review and resolution with professional skill. We greatly appreciate the response we received. Thank you!”

At market, Karen encouraged people to contact the Representative’s website, or herself or Brandon directly with questions:

Karen DeSimone, Constitute Advocate: karen.desimone@mail.house.gov 845-443-2930
Brandon Gonzalez, District Aid: brandon.gonzalez@mail.house.gov

Text 333111 For Emergency Alerts From New York For Your County

The New York State Office Of Emergency Management offers a free opt-in service to sign up for emergency alerts for your county. Text 333111 with your county name in the message field to be subscribed. For Beacon, type “Dutchess County” and you should be subscribed.

Flash Flood Warning For Thursday - Friday As Weather Pattern Shifts, Says Governor Hochul

Photo Credit: A Little Beacon Blog

A fallen tree at Hammond Plaza in Beacon, NY
Photo Credit: A Little Beacon Blog

The shifting weather from extreme heat of this week to heavy rainfall beginning Wednesday night is extending to Thursday and into Friday, said NY Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday in a press release. Trees began falling over in Beacon and Newburgh by early Wednesday evening.

Governor Hochul has directed State agencies to prepare for heavy rain and the potential for localized flooding as parts of the state are forecast to be impacted by periods of heavy rain, which includes the Mid-Hudson region (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester.)

These regions could see over 3 inches of rain again beginning Thursday and is expected to be a "slow moving weather event with the most severe impacts occurring where the storm ultimately sets up,” the release said. Cooler temperatures and lower levels of humidity are expected, however.

A tree down that landed in a building in Newburgh. Avoid all exposed power lines.
Photo Credit: Councilmember Giselle Martinez

Branches down in Newburgh, hitting houses and landing in the street.
Photo Credit: Councilmember Giselle Martinez

“State agencies are on standby for heavy downpours and localized flooding and will be monitoring the situation in real-time to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers in the path of the storm," said Governor Hochul.

Residents are encouraged to get weather alerts for their county by texting 333111 and typing in their county name. Weather alerts can be found at alerts.weather.gov.

Stay charged out there. Your devices. Not your sewer line. Wishing you clear passage in your sewer line and adjacent storm lines. For Plumbing insight, see here.

For Home Repair services, see ALBB’s Business Directory.